B.C. woman wins one of most difficult marathons in the world

A Nanaimo woman climbedher way to victory by winning one of the most difficult marathons in the world earlier this month.

Kristin Clarke ran and climbed the 42-km Inca Trail Marathonin less thanninehours, finishing as the overall winner.

Despite the gruelling experience, she says she found joyin the experience.

"I've found a passion and drive ... I treated it like an adventure," she said.

"I was really just at peace with being out there in nature."

Training for the challenge of lifetime

The Inca Trail Marathon ends at the Machu Picchuruins in Peru, which sitalmost 8,000 feet above sea level.

"It felt really, really challenging," she said.

Despite having never run an actual marathon, Clarke ran and power-hiked on longer distances during her training.

"I've tried training in the same elevation ...I did local adventures ... Strathcona, Arrowsmith, Juan deFuca Trail ...power hiking as much as I can," she recalled.

Clarke struggled with the climbing component of the marathon and said the altitude really affected her.

"You're tired, dizzy ... just trying to manage ... I felt like I was really out of breath," she said.

Clarke's challenge began before she even set foot on the trail. She was sick after arriving inCusco because her body didn't adjust well to the altitude.

"I was a little worried about the race itself ... but I survived."

Mental preparations

Throughout the run, Clarke tried to maintain the rightmindset.

"It's more mentally challenging than physically ... an emotional roller coaster really ... [I tried] to be positive," she said.

On the second big climb of the race,Dead Woman's Pass which is nearly 6,000 feet aboveMachu Picchu she didn't think she'd make it.

"There was all this beautiful scenery I was able to take in once I was at the top ... that made it all worthwhile," she said.